South Korea Friday unveiled a new military transport helicopter developed with the chopper division of Europe's EADS to replace its ageing fleet of U.S. helicopters, AFP reported.

The first "Surion" helicopter was shown at a ceremony attended by President Lee Myung-Bak in the southern city of Sacheon, Lee's office said.

The project, which cost about 1.3 trillion won ($1.05 billion), was launched in 2006 in partnership with Eurocopter, part of European aviation giant EADS. Full-scale production will begin in 2012.

The Surion, smaller than U.S.-designed UH-60 Black Hawks, can fly 260 kilometers (162 miles) per hour, carrying two gunners and a patrol of troops.

South Korea plans to build more than 200 Surion to replace UH-1Hs and 500MDs, which have been in service for decades. It will also build civilian variants of the chopper.

Officials said the Surion would help South Korea reduce its heavy dependence on U.S. helicopters and make inroads into the global helicopter market.


The first "Surion" helicopter was shown at a ceremony attended by President Lee Myung-Bak in the southern city of Sacheon, Lee's office said.

The project, which cost about 1.3 trillion won ($1.05 billion), was launched in 2006 in partnership with Eurocopter, part of European aviation giant EADS. Full-scale production will begin in 2012.

The Surion, smaller than U.S.-designed UH-60 Black Hawks, can fly 260 kilometers (162 miles) per hour, carrying two gunners and a patrol of troops.

South Korea plans to build more than 200 Surion to replace UH-1Hs and 500MDs, which have been in service for decades. It will also build civilian variants of the chopper.

Officials said the Surion would help South Korea reduce its heavy dependence on U.S. helicopters and make inroads into the global helicopter market.